BENTON HARBOR — Wightman & Associates Director of Architecture Gregory Monberg will be a featured presenter this month at LearningSCAPES, the annual international design conference hosted by the Association for Learning Environments, the largest organization in the world whose sole mission is improving the places where people learn.

Monberg is scheduled to present during two separate sessions. On Satruday, he will be joined by Paul Hartsig, superintendent of Dowagiac Union Schools, and J. Scott Winchester, AIA, Seven Generations Architecture & Engineering, Kalamazoo, for a session entitled “Beyond Design Project Zero: How Design Thinking Can Jump Start the Creative Process in Planning for Innovative Learning Environments.”

The interactive session will examine several case studies where design thinking has been applied. Monberg, Hartsig and Winchester will share their experiences from the planning process used for the Dowagiac Union High School renovation and gymnasium addition currently under construction. Other illustrative projects will include the Next Generation Science Labs and a middle school media center, both located in Illinois and for which Monberg led the planning process.

“We will show how design thinking has been successfully applied to learning environments by both educators and learning environment planners,” Monberg said. “Participants will walk away with a better understanding of the benefits design thinking provides when creating learning environments, as well as how to integrate the process into their workflows.”

On Friday, Monberg joins a panel discussion centered on A4LE’s Accredited Learning Environment Planner designation and the core competencies which it represents. The panel will explain the process of accreditation and renewal, as well as outline the skills and knowledge one must demonstrate to earn the accreditation.

Monberg serves on the ALEP Commission responsible for governing the credential that is the most comprehensive professional program in the educational facility planning industry.

In addition to serving as an ALEP commissioner, Monberg is the A4LE’s Area 3 Governor for the Midwest Great Lakes Region. In 2014, he was honored with the Outstanding Service Award by the organization.

Monberg joined Wightman & Associates earlier this year. Previously, he worked for the Oakbrook, Illinois-based office of Fanning Howey, where he built a 22-year architecture, planning and design career. He is a licensed architect in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, an Accredited Learning Environment Planner, and a LEED Accredited Professional.

In addition to his extensive background in K-12 facility design and planning, Monberg has led projects in the higher education market and with municipalities. His ideas and designs have been featured in national publications such as School Planning & Management, as well as at multiple national and international conferences.